Liebherr-Aerospace has further strengthened its presence in China by expanding its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capacities at its site in Shanghai, supporting the growing demand for advanced maintenance solutions in the region. The company has established within its facility an area of around 800 sqm for MRO including testing and re-coring of heat transfer equipment.
As part of its commitment, Liebherr has industrialized a REACH-compliant TCS (Trivalent Chromium System) and PACS (Post Application Conversion Sealer) coating process for heat transfer equipment, following extensive validation at its Original Equipment Manufacturing site in Toulouse (France).
With the introduction of these REACH-compliant procedures, Liebherr is the first company to offer this service for heat transfer equipment to airline customers in China. It offers them a safe and future-oriented solution that meets global aviation standards, mitigates regulatory risks, and enjoys worldwide trust. This protects people, ensures a stable supply, and supports smooth international operations. With this comprehensive in-house maintenance service, all upcoming maintenance work can be performed on-site.
Significant step towards more sustainable customer service
TCS enhances corrosion resistance as well as paint adhesion and PACS seals and reinforces the protective layer for long-term durability. Together, they deliver performance on par with legacy coating without the environmental drawbacks. This coating process complies with REACH, i.e. the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, a regulation of the European Union, adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. Compliance requires the replacement of traditional chromium-based treatments by more environmentally friendly alternatives.
The coating process has been approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) with additional recognition from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This cross-regulatory recognition underscores Liebherr’s commitment to regulatory excellence and customer support. By investing in local capabilities and more sustainable technologies, Liebherr-Aerospace continues to deliver OEM-quality services and reinforces its role as a trusted partner for the Chinese aviation industry.
"This milestone highlights the strong collaboration between our teams in China and our OEM organization,” said Eric Thévenot, General Manager, Customer Services & MRO, Liebherr China Co., Ltd. “By introducing the REACH-compliant TCS/PACS coating process, we are strengthening the sustainability of our services while maintaining the highest technical standards. Ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory frameworks also prepares our customers in China for future environmental requirements."
The achievement demonstrates Liebherr’s long-term commitment to industrial excellence and regulatory leadership. Liebherr’s continued focus on sustainability, in line with its customers’ objectives, underlines the company’s role as a trusted, future-oriented partner in the Asian aerospace ecosystem.
